Carex borealifujianica (Cyperaceae), a new species of the core Carex clade from Fujian, southeastern China

<p><span>A new species, <em>Carex borealifujianica</em> Y.F. Lu &amp; X.F. Jin (Cyperaceae, sect. <em>Occlusae</em> of core Carex clade) is described and illustrated from northern Fujian, China. In addition to morphological comparisons with its relatives, comparative micromorphology of utricles and achenes of seven species in </span><em><span>Carex</span></em><span> sect. </span><em><span>Occlusae</span></em><span> was examined. Micromorphology of utricles and achenes revealed the similarity of <em>Carex</em> <em>borealifujianica</em> and <em>C</em>. <em>ligulata</em>. Morphologically, this new species is similar to <em>Carex</em> <em>ligulata</em> in having lateral spikes remote and densely flowered, as well as utricles densely hispidulous, but differs in having 2 or 3 narrowly clavate staminate spikes, leaves 2.5–5 mm wide with sheaths sparsely pilose, and achenes emarginate at the apex. The phylogenetic analysis from </span><span>two nuclear DNA regions (ETS and ITS) and two chloroplast DNA regions (matK and trnL-F) of 68 taxa resolved </span><span><em>C</em>. <em>borealifujianica</em></span><span> as a distinct species.</span></p>